David Allison

Music fans have heard from more than dozen acts at an inaugural summer event.

The free Coors Speakeasy Summer Special is being held at the Harbour View, in Roker, showcasing homegrown talent including Trevor Sewell, Paul Liddell, Don Meah and Jimmy Smith, Yuma and Dean James.

George Lamb (left) and George Shovlin outside The Harbour View in Roker.

The gathering is the brainchild of the founders of the weekly Speakeasy at the pub, musicians George Shovlin and George Lamb.

The pair hosted a similar festival at their former Blues club - which used the be held in the function room at The Dun Cow before it was taken over by Longhorns - last year which attracted hundreds through the doors.

George Shovlin said: "This is the first one we've done and I have to say I'm thrilled with the turn out.

"We started the Thursday night Speakeasy event three years ago and a lot has happened since then.

"It's incredible how much it's grown. The acts are all involved with the Speakeasy so it felt like the natural thing to get them all together for something like this.

"I don't think there are enough music events like this in Sunderland and these kind of performances should be tie in with the City of Culture bid that we've got going on.

"Sunderland has a great music scene and it needs to be supported more."